Following the success of 1968’s At Folsom Prison and 1969’s At San Quentin, ABC tabbed legendary singer-songwriter Johnny Cash to star in his own television show as a summer replacement for their Saturday night variety show, The Hollwood Palace. Though short-lived, The Johnny Cash Show featured performances by some of the era’s most influential artists including Bob Dylan, Joni Mitchell, Neil Young, Louis Armstrong, Ray Charles, and Stevie Wonder.
On June 7, 1969 The Johnny Cash Show premiered on ABC. Taped at the historic Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN, then home to country music institution the Grand Ole Opry, it was a venue Cash had fulfilled the dream of playing 13 years prior following his chart topping hit “I Walk The Line.” Episode one featured performances by singer-songwriter Joni Mitchell, Cajun fiddler Dough Kershaw, comedian Fannie Flagg and to many’s surprise, Bob Dylan. That night Dylan played “I Threw It All Away” from his 1969 country album Nashville Skyline, “Living The Blues,” which would appear on 1970’s Self Portrait, and a final duet with Cash on “Girl From The North Country.”
Despite being cancelled in 1971, The Johnny Cash Show played host to many memorable performances.
In celebration of Johnny Cash’s 84th birthday today, here are X great performances from The Johnny Cash Show including Cash’s now-classic protest song “The Man in Black.”
Bob Dylan – “I Threw It All Away”
Johnny Cash & Bob Dylan – “Girl From The North Country”
Johnny Cash – “The Man In Black”